Sleeved organic rubber pressure rolls

Abstract

A pressure roll for use in a roll fuser for fixing toner images to copy sheets by the application of heat and pressure, is described. The roll is characterized by a rigid core covered with a relatively thick layer of organic rubber with a relatively thinner sleeve or layer of material acting as an air barrier to the organic rubber to prevent oxidative degradation. The organic rubbers are characterized by small compression deflection decreases even after exposure to high temperatures, under pressure for prolonged periods of time.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A deformable pressure roll for a roll fusing apparatus utilized in fixing toner images to support sheets, said pressure roll comprising: a rigid core;   a resilient layer of long-life, durable non-softening organic rubber adhered to the rigid core; and   an outer protective sleeve material having a high flex life over the organic rubber layer, the sleeve material providing a barrier to air so that the organic rubber is relatively free from oxidative degradation.   
     
     
       2. The pressure roll of claim 1 wherein the organic rubber is selected from the group consisting of chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butadiene/acrylonitrile rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and ethylene acrylic rubber. 
     
     
       3. The pressure roll of claim 1 wherein the organic rubber has a compression deflection decrease of less than 10% after operating at a nip pressure load of about 110 pounds per square inch at 320° F. (160° C.) for 100 hours. 
     
     
       4. A fuser apparatus for fixing toner images to copy sheets, the apparatus comprising: a heated fuser roll structure;   a deformable roll for pressure engagement with the fuser roll structure to form a nip through which the copy sheets pass with the toner images contacting the heated fuser roll structure; the pressure roll comprising:   a rigid core;   a resilient layer of long-life, durable, non-softening organic rubber adhered to the rigid core; and   an outer protective sleeve material having a high flex life over the organic rubber layer, the sleeve material providing a barrier to air so that the organic rubber is relatively free from oxidative degradation.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the organic rubber of the pressure roll is selected from the group consisting of chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butadiene rubber, butadiene/acrylonitrile rubber, and ethylene acrylic rubber. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the organic rubber of the pressure roll has a compression deflection decrease of less than 10% after operating at a nip pressure load of about 110 pounds per square inch at 320° F., (160° C.) for 100 hours. 
     
     
       7. A copier apparatus including structure for forming toner images on copy sheets and structure utilized in fixing the toner images to the copy sheets wherein the latter structure comprises: a deformable pressure roll comprising:   a rigid core;   a resilient layer of long-life, durable, non-softening organic rubber adhered to the rigid core; and   an outer protective sleeve material having a high flex life over the organic rubber layer, the sleeve material providing a barrier to air so that the organic rubber is relatively free from oxidative degradation.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the organic rubber of the pressure roll is selected from the group consisting of chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, butyl rubber, butadiene rubber, butadiene/acrylonitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, and ethylene acrylic rubber. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the organic rubber of the pressure roll has a compression deflection decrease of less than 10% after operating at a nip pressure load of about 800 pounds at 320° F. (160° C.) for 100 hours. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 7 including a fuser roll structure supported for pressure engagement with the deformable pressure roll to form a nip through which the copy sheets are moved with the toner images contacting the fuser roll structure, the fuser roll structure causing a deformation of the pressure roll.